Manual Therapy in Tension-type Headache

November 19, 2020 updated by: Mustafa Corum, Istanbul Physical Medicine Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital

Efficacy of Manual Therapy in Tension-type Headache Patients With Neck Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Tension-type headache (TTH) causes a significant negative impact on working and daily life due to the reduction in work productivity and family and social activities causes. There is evidence that manual therapy and exercise reduce nociceptive input from the cervical spine and surrounding muscles, the use of manual therapy in TTH management

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Increased cranio-cervical muscle sensitivity is the most prominent finding in TTH. Also, neck pain is markedly more common in individuals with TTH compared with the control population (88.4%, and 56.7%, respectively). Therefore, current research on the pathogenesis of TTH focuses on the role of musculoskeletal disorders in the cervical spine and the facilitation of nociceptive pain processing. It has been suggested that peripheral sensitivity of nociceptors in cranio-cervical muscles and other cervical structures, as well as sensitivity of nociceptive pain pathways in the central nervous system (CNS) due to long-term nociceptive stimuli may play a role in development and chronification of TTH

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
45

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Turkey
    • Bahcelievler
      • Istanbul, Bahcelievler, Turkey, 34180
        • Istanbul Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 50 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • diagnosis of TTH was made based on the International Classification of Headache Disorders criteria, third edition (ICHD-3 beta)
  • (bilateral localization, pressing and tightening pain, mild-moderate intensity [≤7.0 on a visual analog scale (VAS)]
  • no increase in pain during physical activity
  • patients did not report any photophobia, phonophobia, vomiting or nausea, as requested by the ICHD-III diagnostic criteria
  • had symptoms for more than 3 months
  • the patients had to have had at least one segmental dysfunction of the upper cervical spine in all groups (by functional and pain-provocation tests).

Exclusion Criteria:

  • any other primary or secondary headache according to the ICHD-III criteria
  • a history of neck or head trauma (e.g., whiplash)
  • any red flags (vertebral tumor, fracture, dislocation and infection, metabolic diseases, rheumatic and connective tissue diseases, systemic neuromuscular diseases, prolonged history of steroid use)
  • diagnosis of any structural spinal disorders (osteoporosis, disc herniation, myelopathy, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis)
  • prior surgery to the cervical spine
  • application of other treatment methods such as physical therapy or anesthetic block to the head and neck area within the last 3 months
  • initiation of pharmacologic prophylaxis within two months prior to randomization
  • pregnancy

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Active Comparator: manipulation group
manipulation plus exercise
Procedure: suboccipital inhibition plus exercise
Suboccipital inhibition was performed for 8 sessions (twice a week for four weeks) as a combined muscle and soft tissue inhibition technique. While the patient was in the supine position, the physician sitting at the top end of the table placed the fingers of both hands on the patient's suboccipital region
Procedure: exercise
Patients were asked to exercise at least three days a week during treatment. The exercise program, which lasted 20 to 30 minutes, included cervical range of motion (ROM) exercises to warm-up and cool-down, and then stretching exercises of cervical and upper thoracic spine muscles (trapezius, levator scapula, sternocleidomastoid) and strengthening exercises (cervical isometric contraction and concentric contraction of the deep cervical flexor muscles).
Active Comparator: myofascial release group
suboccipital inhibition plus exercise
Procedure: exercise
Patients were asked to exercise at least three days a week during treatment. The exercise program, which lasted 20 to 30 minutes, included cervical range of motion (ROM) exercises to warm-up and cool-down, and then stretching exercises of cervical and upper thoracic spine muscles (trapezius, levator scapula, sternocleidomastoid) and strengthening exercises (cervical isometric contraction and concentric contraction of the deep cervical flexor muscles).
Procedure: manipulation plus exercise
HLVA manipulation was performed for 8 sessions (twice a week for four weeks) using a segment-specific technique for segmental dysfunctions of the upper cervical spine. . By bringing the cervical spine to light flexion and about 15-20º lateral flexion without any rotational motion, the middle finger of the manipulating hand provided deep contact, and an HVLA thrust was applied out of the rotational slack by applying a deep force from the dorsal to the ventral direction
Active Comparator: exercise group
only exercise
Procedure: suboccipital inhibition plus exercise
Suboccipital inhibition was performed for 8 sessions (twice a week for four weeks) as a combined muscle and soft tissue inhibition technique. While the patient was in the supine position, the physician sitting at the top end of the table placed the fingers of both hands on the patient's suboccipital region
Procedure: manipulation plus exercise
HLVA manipulation was performed for 8 sessions (twice a week for four weeks) using a segment-specific technique for segmental dysfunctions of the upper cervical spine. . By bringing the cervical spine to light flexion and about 15-20º lateral flexion without any rotational motion, the middle finger of the manipulating hand provided deep contact, and an HVLA thrust was applied out of the rotational slack by applying a deep force from the dorsal to the ventral direction

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Headache Frequency (HF)
Time Frame: Changes from baseline in Headache Frequency Score to 1 month and 3 months
. Headache frequency was measured as the total number of days with headache (days/2-week) in the previous 2 weeks.
Changes from baseline in Headache Frequency Score to 1 month and 3 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
Time Frame: Changes from baseline in Visual Analog Scale Score to 1 month and 3 months
The self-evaluation of pain severity of headache and neck pain during rest and activity in the previous week was calculated using a 10-cm VAS scale, where 0 in the left corner of the scale represented 'no pain' and 10 in the right corner represented 'the worst pain that could be imagined'
Changes from baseline in Visual Analog Scale Score to 1 month and 3 months
Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6)
Time Frame: Changes from baseline in Headache Impact Test-6 Score to 1 month and 3 months
The total score was calculated in HIT-6, which consisted of 6 questions with 5 answer options for each (never: 6 points, rarely: 8 points, sometimes: 10 points, very often: 11 points, always: 13 points). A total score of 36 means best and 78 means worst in terms of headache
Changes from baseline in Headache Impact Test-6 Score to 1 month and 3 months
Neck Disability Index (NDI)
Time Frame: Changes from baseline in Neck Disability Index Score to 1 month and 3 months
The NDI consists of 10 questions about pain disability in the neck region ("no disability" = 0, and "full disability" = 5). The total NDI score was calculated, with 0 showing the best score and 50 showing the worst score.
Changes from baseline in Neck Disability Index Score to 1 month and 3 months
Pressure-Pain Threshold (PTT)
Time Frame: Changes from baseline in Pressure-Pain Threshold Score to 1 month and 3 months
PPT measurements were performed using a mechanical pressure algometer on the temporalis anterior muscle The feeling of pressure was gradually increased until it turned into pain or discomfort, at which point the pressure value was recorded.
Changes from baseline in Pressure-Pain Threshold Score to 1 month and 3 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Istanbul Physical Medicine Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Study Chair: Mustafa Corum, MD, Istanbul Physical Medicine Rehabilitation Training & Research Hospital

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
June 22, 2020

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
September 10, 2020

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
September 10, 2020

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
September 6, 2020

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
September 6, 2020

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
September 11, 2020

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
November 20, 2020

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
November 19, 2020

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
November 1, 2020

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 2020/289

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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